On a wet evening, Barça put in a slick attacking performance to earn another valuable three points, with a goal from Suárez and two from Messi. The Uruguayan opened the scoring against Jorge Sampaoli’s side to kick start a victory that takes Barça temporarily to the top of the table in La Liga. “The team are still confident about our chances,” said Suárez shortly after the final whistle at a rainy Camp Nou. “In the games that remain the mentality has to be a winning one in order to get our fate back in our own hands.” Barça coach Luis Enrique chose to highlight his team’s first half performance against Sevilla in which they scored all three of their goals in the win. “Probably we have put in the best first half performance of the season,” said the coach. “I am happy because it is a positive victory over a great team and because of how we controlled the game.”

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06 April 2017 11:14 AM

by

ANDREAS VOU

Barcelona (CNA).- With a performance as slick as the Camp Nou surface, FC Barcelona swept Sevilla aside on Wednesday night, thanks to three goals in eight first half minutes (3-0). Leo Messi sent an early warning sign of things to come just three minutes in, as he thundered an effort onto the woodwork, before Iniesta drilled a left-footed shot on goal. Sevilla came back with a couple of chances of their own, first when Steven N’Zonzi beat Javier Mascherano to the ball only to be denied by the well-positioned Marc-André ter Stegen, and an unmarked header from Vitolo which sailed over the bar. The team are still confident about our chances,” said Suárez shortly after the final whistle at a rainy Camp Nou. “In the games that remain the mentality has to be a winning one in order to get our fate back in our own hands.”

Floodgates open

But very much like the rain, the goals came in a quick downpour midway through the first half. The opener came in spectacular fashion, as an attempted clearance from the Sevilla defence sat up for Suárez to score with an expertly executed over-head kick from close range.

Minutes later, Ivan Rakitic led a rapid counter-attack, laying the ball out to Neymar Jr who then skinned his man before and played a pass across goal. With the angle too tight for Luis Suárez to have a go himself, he cut the ball back to Messi who drilled it under the keeper for 2-0.

And the third goal in nine minutes arrived courtesy of the feet of Messi again. A looping header in an attempt to clear a Barça corner fell to Messi who smashed home on the volley.

Ter Stegen holds firm

Ter Stegen helped deny any hope of a comeback with a smart stop on the hour-mark after a rasping drive from Vitolo. That was followed some minutes later with another excellent save from a Pablo Sarabia thunderbolt.

There was a chance for Barça to put gloss on the scoreline when Messi played an eye-of-the-needle pass through to Andrés Iniesta, but the captain slipped at the vital moment. Then, a similarly perfect pass from Iniesta played Paco Alcácer in on goal but his effort was smothered by Sergio Rico.

A late second yellow for Vitolo for a harsh challenge on Neymar saw the Spaniard given his marching orders, and the Brazilian almost had the final say with a long-range hit but Rico denied.

The points put Barça momentarily top of the league with Real Madrid set to play Leganés immediately after.